ABI calls for Government to support flood insurance fund

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has called for the Government to commit to a joint solution to ensure long-term affordable flood insurance for high-risk households.

The ABI has described the current state of talks aimed at reaching an agreement as being at an impasse. This follows the Government’s refusal to consider providing a temporary overdraft facility to a proposed not-for-profit special insurance fund for 200,000 high-risk households which will otherwise struggle to get affordable household insurance when the current arrangements come to an end next year. The temporary overdraft facility would be used to pay claims if there were 2007-style floods in the early years of the scheme before it had built up its reserves.

Nick Starling, Director of General Insurance at the ABI says,

"The Government has indicated it will not provide any temporary overdraft facility for the insurance industry's not-for-profit scheme, which makes it very difficult for it to go ahead. As a result, negotiations have hit an impasse. Insurers know their customers are increasingly worried about flood cover and we will therefore continue talks with Government to try and find a way forward.

"The severe floods experienced by many areas of the UK this year are a reminder of the rising flood risk facing the UK. It is therefore vital that insurers and Government tackle this issue together - this is not just a problem for insurers. No country in the world has a free market for flood insurance with high levels of affordable cover without some form of Government involvement."

Contrary to some media reports, the industry is not asking the Government for support funding of any kind.

What is the flood insurance fund?

The insurance industry has proposed a not-for-profit scheme – a flood insurance fund - that will ensure consumers have real choice whilst ensuring homes at risk of flooding are able to buy affordable flood cover.

The ABI says, "We believe the fund would be a significant improvement on the current approach, as it would deliver a competitive market where consumers have real choice. The fund would provide flood insurance for 200,000 properties in the UK that are most at risk of flooding. The remaining 98% would continue to be covered by the industry as normal."

For more information please see the proposed flood insurance fund page.